Booking flights - is there any advantage in using a travel agent?

[EldonAve]

Usually I book online direct with airlines

Is there any advantage to using a travel agent?

yep someone to speak to if anything goes wrong

thanks

quick bump

Travel Agents also have sole access to some flights. They may be able to find cheaper flight prices than you can doing it yourself online. You are also less likely to be messed around - I booked a package holiday including flights directly with Virgin myself, and received the confirmation in the post.This showed our flight times and codes. When I got the invoice for final payment some months later, I noticed that the return flight time had changed, and we were now on the earlier flight home instead of the later one.I had no contact from Virgin about this, not any explanation. I phoned them, but got fobbed off with loads of different excuses, passed around various people, and kept waiting for ages.
They even tried to tell me that the two flights had swopped over! This didn't wash, as my friend was booked on the earlier flight, and was still on that one!
My travel agent told me that if they need seats on a flight for a large group, they will move other people who have booked independently onto other flights.They do not do that to a Travel Agents booking.
It was a good job I noticed, as we would have missed our flight home.
Also, as with the recent volcano ash problems, a Travel Agent is responsible for getting you home, and paying any extra hotel costs. People who have booked themselves do not have this security, and could end up having to spend a lot more money.
We have also booked our own cheap flights online , but it is worth checking prices with someone like Dial A Flight, or your Travel Agent as well.

thanks

I think it depends on where you are going. OH is self employed and often has to travel. If it is a straightforward flight to Europe with up to one change I book his flights myself. For more complicated flights involving several changes and travelling further afield I use a travel agent (who happens to be a good friend).

Our agent friend has also booked package holidays for us at cheaper prices than on the net.

A travel agent can “package” a holiday for you with just one night accommodation. This gives you extra protection under ATOL and you find that usually that one night is free!

No none.
We booked through a agent last year as it was cheaper than direct then when they left us with no flight home from Thailand they took 9 months just it issue a credit note for our refund which was only half what they originally offered us.
At least the replacement flights we booked direct with airlines refunded quicker.

@fuzzyduck1 Depends on who you book with. Trailfinders gave us a full refund within five days.